Q: Hi, I was terminated on 1 May. I was on probation at that time and had completed almost 5 months. I have been told that I will be given 2 months' salary and my visa will remain valid for 3 months to search for another job. On my request to extend my visa for some more time, HR Head discussed with management and after 2 days, the HR executive told me that my visa can be extended for 1 more month i.e. it will remain valid for 4 months on 1 condition that my 2 months salary will remain on hold till that time. I said yes, but later, I realized that it won't be possible for me to survive. So, I called HR Head on the same day and said no to this and asked to find a mid-way solution. When I haven't got any response, I requested them to release my 2 months' salary as per process and keep my visa valid for 3 months. Today I got a response: "We regret to inform you that we are unable to proceed with your request, as the company's policy will not enable us to issue any payment until the work permit and visa are canceled."

Q: In the month of April 2021, I received a 30-day termination notice. The company informs me of the visa cancellation, but there are only a few flights to India at this time. In addition, I must spend 14 days in quarantine in a hotel in my home country. When I explained the situation to them, they advised me to apply for a visit visa once my visa was canceled. Please let me know if any rules have changed as a result of the COVID-19 restriction/situation.

Q: Hi, I have a labour case in Dubai Courts. The court has not issued a judgment yet and postponed the next hearing (date: 14 February 2019) which is beyond my visa expiry date (07 February 2019). The company owner has not attended the first 3 hearings, Now, he is away from the country and his trade license has not been renewed for the second term. I am unable to work somewhere else because my labour card is not cancelled. I am having a hard time now because of these issues and the court proceedings are in the 3rd month. My family visa (2 members) expires in August 2019. Do I need to cancel their visas before my visa expiry date or get special permission to retain their visas until expiry dates since I am having a pending labour case and applied to the court for a temporary stay order? Please, help me. How can I cancel my visa and labour contract so that I am able to join another company and start earning a living? Thank you

Q: I have been terminated from an unlimited contract in a company at ADGM. The company is paying me 3 months' notice pay as per my contract and not giving me the option to work during the notice period. They want to cancel my employment and residence visa on the termination date and not the last date of the notice period, as my last working day will be the termination date. I need my visa to be kept open till at least the notice period end date but not sure what is the law on this.

Q: Hi, I have been terminated from employment and my employer said that they will keep my visa until 7 November to give me time to find a new job. If I don’t find a new job by then, they will cancel the visa anyway. It is unlikely I will secure a job by the 7 November deadline. I understand you have a 30-day grace period to change your status after visa cancellation. My plan is to change to a tourist visa. My question is, if I want to go back home (U.K.) for a while (say 20 November to 4 Jan) and continue applying for jobs from England, what do I need to do regarding my visa? If I exit the country on 20 Nov (within the 30-day grace period) is that sufficient? I’ll still have my apartment, bank account, etc. here. To formerly ‘exit’ after residence visa cancellation, do these also need to be exited/closed? Or is it as simple as I need to exit within 30 days of 7 Nov. so I can fly out mid-November and when I come back in Jan I just get a tourist visa?

Q: Asalmu Alaikum, Dear Honorable Lawyers! I have a question regarding a 70-year-old man who has a rental case in Ajman involving 20,000 dirhams. He has paid 10,000 dirhams, leaving 10,000 dirhams still due. This poor elderly man’s visa has expired, and due to his age, he is unable to find work and has no money for food. How can he resolve his rental case and pay the remaining amount? He has not returned to his home country, Pakistan, for the past 11 years. Is there any law in this country that allows for the waiver of outstanding rent? If something happens to him because of these 10,000 dirhams, or if he passes away here, who will be responsible? Kindly let me know if a waiver application can be submitted for this amount and whom to contact for assistance. Who can help him in this matter, as he has no money? Thanks!

An interview-format article covering the topic of overstaying your tourist or resident visa in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW. Ludmila discusses the aspects of overstaying, like fines, grace periods, exemptions...etc.

The UAE has adopted a major reform in its legislative system that brought about 40 new laws and amendments to the company law, criminal law, personal status, among others. The amendments aim to develop the legislative structure in various sectors, the labor law being one of these, was the most recent. We try in this article to shed light on the changes introduced with the new labor law and their significance on both, the employer and employee.

The provisions of this Law, known as "UAE Labour Law", govern the relationship between employers and employees and other labour matters in the United Arab Emirates. There are special labour related regulations applicable in some of the free zones in the UAE.

This Decree sets the rules and conditions for the termination of fixed-term (limited) or unlimited (not term-bound) employment contract between employer and worker in the United Arab Emirates.

The provisions of this Decree-Law, known as "New UAE Labor Law", govern labour relations in the private sector of the United Arab Emirates. The New Labor Law repeals the previous UAE Labor Law (Federal Law No. (8) of 1980).